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Infielder Valencia cleared by MLB investigation

Infielder Valencia cleared by MLB investigation

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MLB's investigation found no violations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program by Danny Valencia. (AP)

By Brittany Ghiroli
/
MLB.com |

SAN DIEGO -- Orioles infielder Danny Valencia, whose name was reportedly listed among those at the now-closed Biogenesis clinic, was not suspended and has been cleared by Major League Baseball, according to a league press release.

MLB handed down suspensions for 13 players for violations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, but found no violations by Valencia -- who has maintained his innocence throughout the process -- or Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez.

Valencia spoke about the issue publicly just once, when he arrived at Spring Training.

"Basically, I've never had any contact with those people," Valencia said in February. "I've never met Tony Bosch, never seen him, never been to that clinic, never heard of that clinic until the [Miami] New Times story first broke. That being said, I've never ever taken a PED in my life, never failed a drug test in my life and I never will."

Valencia said he was "absolutely shocked" to see his name linked to the now-shuttered Florida clinic and he called Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette to tell him that the report was false.

"I was really upset," Valencia said. "I was trying to think of how this can possibly be. ... All I know is my name was on a piece of paper."